It's primed to be a vibrant fall, and Ohio is among the best places in the nation to view the changing leaves this year.
Ohio is the only state in the nation to have two locations chosen as the best for fall colors in USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards for 2026.
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, stretching between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio, and Hocking Hills State Park in Southern Ohio rank among spots in New England, Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, among others, as voted on by USA TODAY readers.
Here's what the 10BEST awards have to say about Ohio.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park No. 4 among best spots for fall colors in the nation
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio came in at No. 4. Here's what the 10BEST Awards had to say:
"There are 33,000 acres of vibrant fall colors to enjoy in Ohio’s
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The best time for leaf peeping is in late October, though you have a chance to enjoy it the full month in spots like Oak Hill Trail at the start of the month, near Brandywine Falls in the middle, and around the Ledges Overlook toward the end, with opportunities to see the gorgeous red, yellow, and orange maple leaves, red-leafed dogwoods, and yellowing aspens from spots like Kendall Lake and the Everett Covered Bridge."
Hocking Hills State Park No. 2 in U.S. for seeing fall foliage
And at No. 2 is Hocking Hills State Park in Southern Ohio. The awards say:
"The plethora of parks and natural areas that make up the Hocking Hills region are dotted with rocky outcroppings and sweeping views to take in those warm fall colors. Two big festivals — the Bob Evans Farm Festival and the Circleville Pumpkin Show — center around celebrating autumn and offer some entertainment for tourists on the hunt for fall foliage."
Ohio Department of Natural Resources predicts 'great fall colors' this year
David Parrott, fall color forester with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), said two factors are pointing to "vibrant fall colors." First, the state is entering the season without near-drought or drought conditions. And second, the weather forecast is giving a 50% chance of average autumn weather.
"Conditions this year seem to be aligning for great fall colors," he said in a Sept. 24 statement.
And as the state agency has done in past years, ODNR will showcase the best spots to see fall colors around the state in weekly updates starting Thursday, Oct. 1.
ODNR map shows when fall colors are projected to peak in Ohio
ODNR will provide a map showing where leaves are peaking around the state starting Oct. 1 on its fall colors website.
The ODNR Division of Forestry prediction calls for fall colors to peak in far north Ohio in mid-October. In Northern and Central Ohio, colors are expected to peak in mid- to late-October. Leaves are anticipated to be at their peak colors in Southern Ohio from late October to early November.
Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Fall colors occur due to trees slowing the production of chlorophyll, a green pigment, as they begin to go dormant for the winter. Without chlorophyllin the leaves, other yellow, orange, and red pigments can be seen. Sunny days and cool nights also promote the production of pigments that produce red and purple hues in the leaves. Several variables, such as length of days, sunlight, temperature, wind, and rainfall, affect the intensity and longevity of leaf color.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: These 2 Ohio parks rank among best in nation for fall colors
